Thursday, October 5, 2017

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 6): Duterte: Talking to communists not good for the country

President Rodrigo Duterte said he not ready to talk with the communist rebel group and talks may not take place during his presidency.

“We are fighting the New People’s Army. At this stage, I am not ready to talk to them because it is not good for the country,” he said during the 58th Change of Command Ceremony of the Philippine Army at the Philippine Army Headquarters Grandstand, Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City on October 5.

Amid Duterte’s efforts in reaching out to the communists, its armed group NPA continued to attack government forces and private businesses.

“Eh kung para lang sa bayan, okay ‘yan,” he said. “But the way that it is now, ayaw ko.”

“And maybe it would take some time to – maybe another President to do it,” he added.

“It’s been 50 years. Estudyante ako noon, nakikinig naman ako kay Sison,” he said. “Alam mo, pagka bata ka pa, you’re full of… meron pang naiwan. Konti na lang. It’s full of ideal – a set of what you want the world to be. But when you get older, alam mo na this is not really possible, that life is really unfair. It ain’t really fair.”

The Joint Task Force on Security codenamed Leon Kilat of Negros Oriental will review and improve its structure and security plan following learning experiences from Thursday’s seminar on terrorism and crisis management by the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

In an interview after a whole-day seminar, Task Force Leon Kilat Executive Director Bimbo Miraflor said their group would look into the methods and the learning experiences shared by the FBI to determine what is applicable, can be adopted and innovated in the local scenario.Miraflor said the task force would deliberate on ways to “fill in some gaps after assessing the roles and responsibilities of the JTF as far as the maintenance of peace and order."

About 100 participants, comprising representatives from law enforcement and the civilian sector attended the one-day seminar on international terrorism and crisis management, conducted by the Office of the US Legal Attaché and the FBI based at the US Embassy in Manila.

During a series of modules presented in the seminar, the FBI officials said some novelties need to be addressed by law enforcement agencies, which Miraflor acknowledged.

“Most security personnel here are looking at the usual procedures”, he said, pointing out that many are not keeping an eye or are aware of the new methods being employed by the terrorists.

The FBI lecturers cited as an example that of the Inabanga, Bohol incident where members of the extremist Maute Group had penetrated that Central Visayas province from Mindanao via the sea.

“With the help of the FBI we will have a very solid ground for us to develop some initiatives” to further strengthen the province’s security contingency plan and disaster response, Miraflor said.

Miraflor said a meeting of the Joint Task Force Leon Kilat will be held in the coming weeks to discuss potential areas for review and revision.

During the seminar, the FBI discussed and shared multiple scenarios on terrorist attacks and crisis management and response.

They highlighted the need for cooperation between and among law enforcement agencies and the private sector.

The US Embassy officials also assured their counterparts here on law enforcement of their support and cooperation on intelligence gathering and investigation of interest to both countries.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, October 5, reminded the members of the Philippine Army to remain loyal to the Constitution and to the people as he led the Philippine Army’s 58th change of command ceremony at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

“Maintain your loyalty to the Constitution and to the flag. Do not nurture a personal or a person diyan,” the President said in his address before the troops.

“Kaming lahat diyan sa gobyerno, dumadaan lang. But it behooves upon you, I said, to see to it that this country will grow, prosper until the end of time,” he said.

The President also said he wants to leave the presidency with a strong army and police that can respond to simultaneous attacks. But to achieve that goal, the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police must upgrade their equipment and capability to cope with the present challenges, especially in fighting terrorism, he said.

One of the President’s suggestions is for the Armed Forces to use its properties and forge join ventures with the private sector. The AFP could enter into long-term lease agreements to fund its modernization program.

“I’ll give you this place. Lahat ito with a one sole condition. ‘Yung lahat kikitain ninyo diretso sa inyo. At gawain ninyo ang gusto ninyong gawin to modernize. Pera ‘yan. Malaking pera ‘yan. Just start to lease here --- trillion ito. But I would need the money in the coming years also to meet your expenses,” Duterte said.

“Buy all the equipment you need to meet the challenges way, way ahead,” he said. He also said that soldiers and policemen will also receive a higher pay by January next year.

The President meanwhile praised the country’s soldiers after a recent survey showed that the Philippine Army got an impressive +75 net trust rating in the first semester of 2017.

“It’s a testament of the troops’ commitment to protect the people and defend the democratic rights,” Duterte said.

Duterte also commended the AFP and the PNP for their efforts to quell rebellion in Marawi City.

“As an experience from the Middle East, it takes a lot, about half a year or three months. And I am not surprised and you should not be surprised that it has taken this long really to move inch for inch. Because of the prepositioned maneuvers by the enemies and the fact that you have to breach semento pati bakal. And that takes a lot of hard work,” he said.

“Maswerte tayo dito, in a very short time and I would credit it to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the toil of the Philippine National Police. Hindi ho madali ‘yung trabaho na ‘yan,” he added.

The President also mentioned the ongoing campaign against communist insurgents. “We are fighting the New People’s Army. At this stage, I am not ready to talk to them because it is not good for the country. Eh kung para lang sa bayan, okay ‘yan. But the way that it is now, ayaw ko. And maybe it would take some time to… maybe another President to do it,” he said.

President Duterte meanwhile said outgoing Army chief Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda will join the board of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA). Major General Rolando Bautista, former head of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), succeeded Miranda as Army chief.

The United Bangsamoro Justice Party- Southern Mindanao Region held meeting in General Santos City last September 29, 2017. The said meeting was graced by its Vice President Mohagher M. Iqbal who is also the Chairman of the MILF Peace Implementing Panel.
The activity was participated by the five Chief Executive Officers and the Regional Staff of the UBJP-Southern Mindanao.

UBJP-Southern Mindanao is composed of the three provinces of Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and Sarangani, and two cities of Tacurong and General Santos. It has an active members and officers of around seven hundred which was manifested during its Founding Assembly last December 10-13, 2017 held at Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat.

Iqbal briefed the participants regarding the updates on the implementation of the peace agreement between the GPH and the MILF where specifically pointed some salient points on the status and progress of the BBL in the Congress both in Lower House and in the Senate.

He said, “We are hopeful that the 17th Congress will pass a good and acceptable BBL to the MILF”. “What we are seeing now is that there are many members of the Congress interested in sponsoring the BBL crafted by the 21-member of the new BTC in the Duterte Administration,” he added.

However, he also reminded the Chief Executive Officers and Regional Staff of the UBJP-Southern Mindanao that, “Our Bangsamoro struggle for self-determination which the United Nations charter has put forward, to freely determine our political status and freely pursue our economic and socio-cultural development”. On this note, he said, “whether a good and unacceptable BBL is passed by the 17th Congress we have to continue asserting our basic rights stipulated in the UN Charter.

The more than two hours meeting was concluded with ways forward to strengthen further the UBJP-Southern Mindanao region.

Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (Oct 4): MILF Peace Implementing Panel holds Youth Forum on the Trend of Extremism in General Santos City

(IN PHOTO)- MILF PIP Chair Mohagaher Iqbal speaking to participants during the Youth Forum on the Trend of Extremism in Mindanao

Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) – Peace Implementing Panel (PIP) conducted a Youth Forum on the Trend of Extremism in Mindanao last September 27-28, 2017 held at the Family Country Hotel, General Santos City.

The forum started with an invocation by Salabi A. Yahya of Moro Youth Organization in General Santos City followed by welcome remarks by Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD) Country Representative Suzanne Damman, read by Annieza Mohammad, on behalf of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD).

Ms. Mohammad of CHD Cotabato gave the objective of the activity followed by the introduction of the participants by Dr. Zulqarnayn Abas and Dr. Norodin Salam.

Professor Abhoud Syed Lingga, member of MILF Peace Implementing Panel gave updates on the Bangsamoro Peace Process. He discussed the current status and ways forward of MILF and GPH peace process.

He also discussed the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) version of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) recently filed in the House of Representative which is known as House Bill (HB) no. 6475 sponsored by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and more than one hundred congressmen co-sponsored the said bill.

In the second session of the activity entitled “The Youth, Violent Extremism and the Bangsamoro, Uz. Abdulhadie Gumander in power point presented the topic “What is extremism and how does it affect the Bangsamoro” while Us. Abdulkahar Musa discussed the “Correct Aqeeda”.

Ustadz. Gumander said that Islam expressly prohibits all forms of extremism, whether violent or non-violent because Islam is a moderate religion. Islam prohibits compulsion of religion and that Prophet Mohammad Sallahu Alayhi Wassalam commanded his ummah Muslim to treat with kindness and justice the non-Muslim during his time in Madina, Saudi Arabia which was later declared as the first Islamic state in the world.

Ustadz. Musa started his lecture by giving the Five pillars of Islam and the Six Articles of Faith, which are the foundation of Islamic Faith or the Correct Aqeedah. He reminded the youth participants that Prophet Mohammad Sallahu Alayhi Wassalam, in one of his hadiths, said that the “Muslims will split into 73 sects and only one will go to Jannah. It is very important that we are following the right path”, he further said.

Mohagher Iqbal, Chairman of MILF Peace Implementing Panel, MILF-Central Committee on Information, and Commissioner of Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) gave the history of the Bangsamoro Struggle.

He started his discussion with video presentation of the Bangsamoro Struggle from Moro-Spanish war, the American occupation of Mindanao, and the Philippine colonization of Bangsamoro Homeland.

He discussed the Bangsamoro Problem and the importance of restoring the rights of the Bangsamoro to self-determination. “Bangsamoro problem is a political problem which requires a political solution”, he further said.

He also discussed the roadmap of MILF and GPH peace process and the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB).

During the closing program, the youth participants expressed their full support to the immediate passage of the BBL and the complete implementation of the CAB. They also called on the leaders of the House of Representative to immediately pass the BBL as it is the shield against rising violent extremism and radicalism in Mindanao.

European Union Ambassador to the Philippines, Franz Jessen headed a delegation of EU Member States’ Ambassadors in their visit to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Leadership at the Moro Front’s Administrative Camp in Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao on Monday, October 2.
MILF Chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim and majority of the members of the MILF Central Committee were in attendance who welcomed the diplomat- guests cordially.

MILF Peace Implementing Panel (MILF-PIP) Chairman Mohagher Iqbal delivered the welcome remarks and described the meeting as not just only historic in many senses but it has come at a time when the issue of the Marawi crisis transpired, and the BTC-crafted Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) has just been filed and sponsored by many lawmakers in the lower house.

In the course of their discussion, Ambassador Jessen and other EU Member States’ Ambassadors have expressed their concerns over the proliferation of ISIS in Mindanao, the Marawi Crisis, the situation on the ground, and BBL passage. They have also reiterated their support to the peace process.

Chairman Ebrahim thanked the EU delegation for responding to the invitation of MILF. He summarized the situation in the ground saying there are relative peace in many areas, while in other areas, there are some hostilities being staged and made by some religious extremists who are seen to be inspired by foreign nationals’ ideology.

“Some of those who have joined the said movement were the result of their displeasure. The situation is believed to continue to exist until a political solution will be arrived at”, Chairman Ebrahim added.

Ghazali Jaafar, 1st Vice Chairman joined Chairman Ebrahim in the view that with the present rise of radicalism lately, there is a pressing need to take steps to prevent its spread and grievous consequence.

The passage of BBL, the implementation of signed agreements, a strong political structure, are the keys to Right to Self-Determination (RSD), which the Bangsamoro have long clamored for, will pave the way for peace, progress on political, social, cultural and economic developments.

The leadership when asked about the steps being done to counter the problem besetting the area, replied, “there are programs and changes in the approach in ideological and social spheres being carried out.

But the best counter is for the peace process to succeed, finally setting up a political structure that will be acceptable to the people, Chairman Ebrahim stressed.

For his part, BIAF-MILF Chief of Staff Sammy Al Mansour updated the guests on the situation on the ground on MILF’s campaign against the extremists’ elements.

The MILF leadership once again expressed gratitude for the European Union’s continued support for the Peace Process. In return, the EU delegation thanked the MILF leadership for the invitation to come. It was an exhaustive meeting bringing hope for a more promising events and developments.

Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (Oct 4): ARMM and The Proposed Bangsamoro Government: A Glimpse on the Bangsamoro Aspiration

The Bangsamoro aspiration is not about religion per se but a struggle to regain their rightful place in the Philippines mainstream society, their usurped traditional landholdings and their legitimate rights to self – determination as embodied in the United Nations Character.

But in Islam, the affairs of the government and practice of religion are inseparable. Unlike, in the western concept of governance that the church and state are separable. The Philippine Constitution provides, that " the separation between the church and state is inviolable “. As what the late Chairman of MILF, Sheik Salamat Hashim (Allah yarhamo) had said, " Practicing Islam without governmental sanction is a truncated version of faith and therefore , un - Islamic. A government not founded on Islamic principles (Qur'an and Sunnah) is unquestionably un - Islamic.

Bangsamoro armed struggle is originally a secession movement calling for the independence of Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan from the Philippines but when the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) entered into a Final Peace Agreement in 1996 they opted for Autonomy which is now the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The dilemma is when the Organic Act was crafted in congress the MNLF had no participation, resulting in a measure that the MNLF continues to believe as abrogated peace deal which the former President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino II declared as " failed experiment ".

For its part, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have their Final Peace Agreement through the signing of Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) on March 27, 2014 that led to creation of Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) mandated by the Philippine Government to craft a basic law for the establishment of the Bangsamoro Government.

Unfortunately, the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) crafted by the BTC created by Pres. Aquino through an executive order failed to pass by congress.

Under the current administration, an expanded BTC composed of 21 Commissioners representing all sectors of the Bangsamoro homeland for purposes of inclusivity and co - ownership of the proposed legislative measure crafted a new version of Bangsamoro Law and submitted to Congress. The said proposed law has been sponsored in the lower house by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, HoR Majority Floor Leader Rudy Fariñas, and other lawmakers.

The proposition is that the, " ARMM as failed experiment " is attributed to two factors, viz a viz: First, the organic act creating ARMM is an imposed measure and did not reflect the true aspiration of the Bangsamoro people considering that the MNLF has no participation in the crafting of the said law.

Second, good governance. The leaders failed to address the socio - economic problem besetting the marginalized sector. The poverty incidence is so high and remained as one of the poorest regions in the country.

The moment of truth has finally come, i.e. the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law in the 17th Congress. The MILF remained firm in their position that the provisions of the BBL crafted by the BTC reflect the Bangsamoros legitimate aspiration for identity, homeland, self - governance and right to self - determination.

Granting without admitting that the draft BBL is diluted by congress, the proposed Bangsamoro Government will again doom to fail. History may repeat itself.

Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (Oct 5): Federalism and the proposed Bangsamoro Government

(IN PHOTO)- MILF PIP Chair Mohagher Iqbal speaking to participants during the Forum on the Role of Bangsamaoro Youth in Pursuit of Peace in Mindanao in Zamboanga City

When President Rodrigo R. Duterte assumed the presidency, he directed his cabinet, and lawmakers to navigate on his peace agenda on two tracks. First track is the shift of government from unitary to federal and the second track is the peace deal with NDF/ CCP - NPA and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

While the government is pursuing the federal form of government through charter change and mass movement for federalism, majority of the Bangsamoro people are adamant and apprehensive considering that there is a peace deal between the government and the MILF for the establishment of the Bangsamoro political entity, and afraid that the shift might affect their aspiration.

For purposes of understanding federalism, it is a form of government where sovereignty is constitutionally shared between a governing authority and constituent political units called states or regions.

There are some groups espousing to hold in abeyance the establishment of Bangsamoro entity until such time a federal shift is in place. The question is till when and what guarantee do they have that the initiative will materialized.

MILF on their part is not against federalism. It is only a matter of sequence. BBL first before federalism as what Bangsamoro CSO's are saying. Establish Bangsamoro entity first through the passage of BBL then federalism.

As what President Duterte said, " We can use Bangsamoro government as a template for federalism."

While is it true that federalism may address many issues confronting the government but it is national in its scope. Bangsamoro people have a distinct identity, ethnicities and faith that only the passage of BBL could address all of these.

MILF Chair of Peace Implementing Panel Mohagher Iqbal has been emphasizing that, " Federalism could solve the entire problems of people in the country, while the BBL can solve the Bangsamoro question on right to self - determination."

It is argued that the shifting to federal government from unitary government will take more time considering that there are factors to be considered in this initiative i.e. process of charter change either constituent assembly or constitutional convention, federal model to follow, organizational structure, budgetary requirements in setting up and many more.

Bangsamoro Basic Law is already filed in Congress and the MILF leadership reiterated their call to all stakeholders to support it and appealed to all Bangsamoro people to unite for common good.

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From Rappler (Oct 5): Philippines, U.S. 'level up' military exercises for 2018

The US is also expected to begin the construction of facilities inside select Philippine military camps next year

The Philippine and United States militaries are planning to hold a total of 261 activities next year including exercises on territorial defense, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Eduardo Año.

"A total of 261 activities composed of exchanges and exercises. From 258 [this year] to 261, meaning to say ni-level up natin 'yung mga activities (we are leveling up the activities)," Año said.

The Philippine military chief met with the Americans as President Rodrigo Duterte gets friendlier to the country's treaty ally.

"That was last year," Año said about Duterte's plans to lessen exercises between the US and Philippine militaries, especially the territorial defense exercises conducted in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), as he seeks warmer ties with China.

This is the third batch of remains buried in the area. They were recovered from the main battle area in Marawi City.

MASS BURIAL. Smoke rises from the distance after an air strike by an F/A50Ph fighter planes as members of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office bury 36 human and 4 animal remains in Maqbara, Papandayan, Marawi City on October 5, 2017. Photos by Bobby Lagsa/Rappler

36 human remains and 4 animal remains were buried on Thursday, October 5, at the Maqbara Mass Grave in Barangay Papandayan, Marawi City.

This is the third batch of remains buried in the area. They were recovered from the main battle area in Marawi City.

Police Senior Superintendent Mary Leocy Mag-abo, Regional Chief of Crime Laboratory 10, said the remains were processed by the Scene of Crime Operatives (SOCO) for DNA sampling for identification.

The Maqbara Mass Grave now has 90 human remains buried there.

Mag-abo added that of the 36 bodies buried today, 25 are suspected ISIS members while 11 remained.

Mag-abo said that they only suspect those who are wearing black ISIS uniform but they cannot be completely certain.

“We can say that they are IS fighters because they are wearing black uniforms and they have pistol belts and other indicators that they are fighters, but we can also say that they could be just dressed up, Baka binihisan lang,” Mag-abo said.

Mag-abo also said that they can only identify the bodies if there will be someone who reports a missing person.

“Even if we have DNA generated from these samples, if there is no person who comes out and reports that their relatives are missing, then we only have generated DNA with no match,” Mag-abo said.

Mag-abo added that they also examined 110 remains, 10 of which are animal remains. The others are human remains.

90 of these human remains are buried in Maqbara while 7 are buried in Iligan City, including the 4 bodies of ISIS who were with Farhana Maute when she was arrested.

EXHUMATION. Marines from the 7th Marine Landing Battalion Team (MLBT) exhume a grave thought to contain the remains of Marine Private Alejandro Balean. Photo by Bobby Lagsa/RapplerSearch for the missing marine

SOCO also tried to exhume the suspected remains of a missing Marine soldier Private Alejandro Balean of the 7th Marine Landing Battalion Team.

Balean went missing on June 9,2017 after he jumped from Balo-I (Mapandi) bridge during a fierce fire fight in an operation to retake the bridge. He was swept by the current.

SOCO records show that human remains in a Marine pants uniform was recovered in the Agus River near Rurug Agus.

SOCO records also showed the remains were buried in graveyard A-1-32 on September 5.

Marines exhumed the grave so SOCO could extract more DNA samples from the remains.

Mag-abo said that extracting DNA from skeletons is more difficult as compared to other parts such as hair or muscles.

Balean’s parents came forward to locate their missing son.

However, when the marines recovered the body bag containing what supposed to be the remains with Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) of the suspected marines, the body bag did not match with the DVI and grave marker.

Mag-abo said that the DVI on the Body bag and the grave marker should have matched.

It is only then that SOCO found out that there is a mix-up on the DVI and grave marker on the second batch of bodies buried there.

The grave caretaker said that what they did was record the number, not the DVI on the body bag and the grave marker causing a problem with SOCO’s standard practice.

Mag-abo said the government spent resources on DNA sampling and following procedures on proper burial in mass graves, only to have them mixed-up during the burial.

There were 27 bodies buried on the 2nd batch of the mass burial on September 5, 2017. It is still unclear how will SOCO and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council will correct the mix-up as it was starting to rain while the burial was still on-going.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Office of the Legal Attaché of the United States Embassy in Manila will hold a one-day Seminar on International Terrorism and Crisis Management on Thursday in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.

The provincial government of Negros Oriental, headed by Governor Roel Degamo, is spearheading the seminar to respond to the needs for a pro-active stance in the face of a real terror threat, said Joint Task Force Leon Kilat Executive Director Bimbo Miraflor.

Miraflor on Wednesday said the resource speakers are Legal Attaché Lamont Siller and Steven Miller from the FBI, an agency under the Office of the Legal Attaché.

This is the first-ever seminar of its kind in Negros Oriental, and similar to the one held previously in Boracay, he said.

The US Embassy in Manila communicated with the provincial government offering to train the Task Force Leon Kilat and other attached agencies on crisis management and anti-terrorism, said Miraflor.

Law enforcement agencies like the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Coast Guard, the National Bureau of Investigation and similarly-natured units are attending the seminar.

Other participants include government agencies such as the Land Transportation Office, the Philippine Ports Authority and the Bureau of Customs, who play a vital role in security and safety, and civilian authorities, such as the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) president, the Councilors’ League president, and the League of Mayors of the Philippines-Negros Oriental chapter president.

Because of limited slots, only the heads of these civilian organizations are invited to the seminar but they are hopefully expected to echo the seminar down to the lower levels, Miraflor said.

The whole morning of the seminar will be dedicated to lectures and theory while the afternoon will be spent for tabletop exercises, he added.

The local government here confirmed efforts of some Muslims to convince locals in this town to join the Islamic faith, prompting them to be cautious of possible entry of radical movements.

Mayor Heraclio Santiago was, however, quick to say that they respect people’s decision to change religion as part of the so-called "Balik Islam" campaign.

"Balik Islam" is a worldwide phenomenon implying that those who embrace Islam are actually just returning to their previous faith.

Santiago said "Balik Islam" was introduced in their remote town in 2015 by converts from Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Tacloban City and from the nearby Dolores town, where there is a big community of Muslims.

More than a hundred residents of Maslog have been converted to Islam, according to Santiago.

Validated information from village officials revealed that preachers offered livelihood assistance, housing aid, and political influence in their communities.

Santiago added that although some of residents were convinced to change religion, most of them are not really that devoted to Islamic faith.

“Most of them are on 'wait and see' attitude if the promises given to them would really happen,” he added.

Latest verification by the Maslog Municipal Police Station shows more than 100 converts, about 66 of them decided to return to Roman Catholic faith.

“Maybe they got tired of waiting for the fulfillment of the promises, that’s why they decided to return to their former religion,” said town police chief, Insp. Michael Oraller.

Oraller stressed that even if they respect others people right to promote religion, they are also cautious on the entry of new faces in their town to ensure that no one propagates radical movement.

Maslog is a fifth class town in Eastern Samar, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 5,407 people. It can be reached from the national road in Dolores town through a three-hour boat ride. Dolores is 184 kilometers northeast of Tacloban.

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 5): Maute now confined to much smaller area: AFP

Areas controlled by the Maute Group terrorists in Marawi City has now shrunk to around 5 to 7 hectares.

This was disclosed by AFP public affairs Col. Edgard Arevalo in press briefing late Wednesday.

This is smaller compared to the 8 to 9 hectares previously reported and is indicative that the military is steadily pushing and constricting the enemy into a much smaller and tigher space.

Arevalo added that remaining numbers of Maute Group terrorists are also down to 40 or 10 fighters lower than previously reported.

Number of slain lawless elements are placed at 753 while government losses are at 155 since fighting started last May 23 after a botched attempt to arrest Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and his cohorts.

Rescued hostages are now at 1,733 while Marawi City residents slain or executed by the bandits are put at 47.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is now a member of the National Intelligence Committee (NIC), an advisory body that addresses national security issues and concerns.

“PDEA’s membership in the NIC is a result of our request to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to include the Agency in the committee to further strengthen our intelligence capability,”PDEA Director General Aaron N. Aquino said in a statement Thursday.

Under Administrative Order No. 7 dated Sept. 22 on “Reorganizing the NIC to Provide Greater Unity and Cohesion of the Intelligence Community, Amending for this Purpose Administrative Order No. 68 Series of 2003, and for Other Purposes”, the NIC, which shall continue to be chaired by the director general of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), shall be composed of the Department of Foreign Affairs, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Customs, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, PDEA, Philippine Coast Guard, and Office for Transportation Security.

The NIC, through the director general of the National Security Council (NSC), is authorized to call upon any department, bureau, agency or instrumentality of the government to become its member and/or to provide assistance in the acquisition and production of information/intelligence on a regular basis, specifically those necessary in the performance of its functions.

The NIC may designate or invite resource persons from relevant units of the government that are not necessarily involved in intelligence work, but could otherwise provide relevant data to fill in information gaps, support intelligence build-up and boost efforts on meeting or satisfying particular intelligence requirements.

It may also review its existing standard committees, technical working groups and secretariat to determine retention, dissolution, replacement or creation of other related committees and groups to make the NIC more organized, proactive and effective in fulfilling its mandate.

“The fusion of accurate, relevant, reliable and timely intelligence materials among the NIC members facilitates the formulation of national security policies by President (Rodrigo) Duterte and the NSC,” Aquino said.

“Intelligence is the very essence of our work as drug enforcement officers. The success or failure of any legitimate anti-drug operation depends on whether or not we did our homework. Simply put, a genuine victory against illegal drugs relies soundly on solid and accurate intelligence,” the PDEA chief added.

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 5): PH, US to hold 261 military exercises in 2018

American and Filipino military units will have a total of 261 exercises for 2018, three events higher than scheduled this year.

This was disclosed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson, Major Gen. Restituto Padilla, in a press briefing Thursday.

This came in wake of the just-concluded Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board held in Hawaii last week.

He said the increase is not significant per se as some activities were only separated.

And while not giving the exact activities, Padilla said these include the usual expert exchanges, meetings, board exercises, consultations and continuing regular engagements like the annual "Balikatan" exercises.

He added that a number of American military officials would be arriving to discuss next year's "Balikatan." These include initial, mid, and final planning conferences and inspection of areas to be utilized for next year's event.

Padilla said the bulk of next year's "Balikatan" games are on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counter-terrorism exercises and some territorial defense type activities.http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1011875

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 5): PNP to get weapons donation from China: Lorenzana

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday said all of the Chinese-made M-4 assault rifles donated by the People's Republic of China (PROC), will be turned over to the Philippine National Police (PNP) for their ongoing campaign against hard drugs, terrorism, and counter-insurgency.

The weapons, except the sniper scopes, will be immediately handed over to the PNP once these pass through the military's logistic units for recording and accounting purposes.

On Thursday, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, Zhao Jianhua, handed over 3,000 M-4 assault rifles, three million rounds of ammunition and 90 sniper scopes to Lorenzana during short ceremonies in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

This is the second batch of weaponry donated by the Chinese government to the Philippines. All of the items were given without any costs to the Philippines, Lorenzana said.

"According to the directive of the President, they (Chinese M-4s) will be given to the (PNP). If you remember, the PNP tried to buy 26,000 (M-4 units) from (a) dealer in the United States but it has taken them too long to deliver, so we are lucky that the Chinese government (has) provided (us) with firearms," he said.

Lorenzana added the first batch of Chinese donated weapons, consisting of 3,000 rifles with five million rounds of bullets along with 90 sniper rifles and 800,000 round of ammunition, were handed to the PNP a few months after.

The arms shipment arrived at Clark Air Base, Angeles City, Pampanga last June 28.

The People's Republic of China (PROC) is committed to resolving the maritime dispute with the Philippines peacefully.

This was emphasized by Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, Zhao Jianhua, on the sideline of China's donation of 3,000 M-4 assaults, three million rounds of ammunition, and 90 sniper scopes in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Thursday.

"Chinese (government) is committed to (a) peaceful resolution to the disputes that we have in the South China Sea. As far (as) military-to-military relations is concerned, we are enhancing our respective relations with all the claimant states including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and we're even exporting submarines missiles to some of the claimant states," he added.

He said this only shows that Beijing has no intention to settle the dispute by force as it would have not given or sold weapons to claimant states.

"We are not afraid because our intention is sincere and our belief the intention of the Philippines and other claimant states is also sincere in terms of seeking a peaceful solution to the disputes we have," Zhao stressed.

"Second point, is that we do have disputes but we have to put in a proper context, I said repeatedly early it only constitute one percent of our overall bilateral relationship so we need to look at the bigger picture and focus on friendship and cooperation but in the meantime we need to be sincere and to be candid in exchange views, in seeking a solution that is peaceful and that is acceptable to both sides," he pointed out.

When asked about the presence of Chinese ships off Pag-asa sandbars, the Chinese envoy said they are strictly complying with the Declaration of Conduct (DOC) that China and ASEAN have agreed upon in 2002.

"But you may see some presence of Chinese ships or presence Filipino ships but that's a part, we say that overlapping or disputed area, so it’s quite natural for you to see some of the boats, fishing boats to be there, they are carrying their daily fishing, you don't have to be alarmed and both Chinese and the Filipino side have a clear understanding of what they are doing," Zhao added.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana echoed Zhao's remarks, noting that it is natural to see a lot of ships in the disputed waters.

"You (members of the media) were with us when we went to Pag-asa (last April) right? so you saw a lot of ships there, saw ships in the distance, if you stand at the end of the runway in Pag-asa you can see already the Subi Reef, the structures there and then the vicinity there are already Chinese ships fishing and also on the other side you can also, you see also (a) Philippine ship, in fact one of our navy ship was there before so it's natural like the ambassador said that you can see a lot of ships there, it (does not) mean that the ships are doing illegal things or harassing other people," he added.

Lorenzana also clarified that there is no violent conflict in the area.

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Oct 5): PH, US to ramp up joint military activities for 2018

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año speaks during at the closing ceremony of the 2017 Balikatan military exercise held in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, May 19, 2017. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

After scaling down this year, the Philippines and United States will have increased joint military activities for 2018.

Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Año said a total of 261 activities composed of exchanges and exercises were agreed upon by the two counties to be conducted next year.

Año was in the United States last week for the Mutual Defense Board – Security Engagement Board meeting with US military officials.

Joint activities were scaled back this year as President Rodrigo Duterte repeatedly threatened to cut the ties with the United States.

The President often criticized the US for supposedly meddling with domestic affairs of the Philippines.

Naval exercises such as CARAT, or cooperation afloat readiness and training, and PHIBLEX, amphibious landing exercises, were scrapped. But the Balikatan, biggest war games of the two countries, continued but focused less on combat.
The AFP chief said the President had no specific order on the joint military activities with the US for next year.

“Ang sabi lang niya is to continue engagement with the United States. They are still our number one ally and kung ano ‘yung provision ng treaty, carry out,” he said.

The joint activities include exercises on territorial defense, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, and counterterrorism.

Duterte recently said he was on friendlier terms with the US, saying they have “redeemed themselves a lot.”

The Philippines’ military chief hailed the United States as his nation’s “number one ally” and announced a return of regular war games, following President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for warmer ties.

Duterte last week vowed to be “friendly” with the United States, signalling an end to relentless criticism that included a vow to end all joint military exercises and branding then US president Barack Obama a “son of a whore”.

Military chief General Eduardo Ano, returning from Hawaii where he met US Pacific Command chief Admiral Harry Harris last week, said Thursday the allies had agreed to increase joint military exercises for 2018 after they were scaled down this year.

“The president said: ‘I want to be friendlier to the US’. So we have a closer relationship and more exercises,” Ano told reporters in Manila.“He (Duterte) said to continue engagement with the United States. They are still our number one ally.”

Ano said the joint exercises next year would focus on counter-terrorism, disaster response and even territorial defence.As he sought to loosen his nation’s alliance with the United States, Duterte also looked to build warmer relations with China and Russia.

During a visit to Beijing a year ago he announced his nation’s “separation” from the United States.

He later explained he was angry at Obama for criticizing his war on drugs, which has since seen thousands killed and led rights groups to warn Duterte may be orchestrating a crime against humanity.

Duterte said last week the dispute was “water under the bridge” as he thanked the United States for helping the Philippines fight Islamic militants who have occupied parts of the southern city of Marawi since May 23.

The US has provided intelligence, weapons and training to local forces trying to retake Marawi.

The fighting has claimed more than 900 lives and raised fears the Islamic State group is trying to establish a Southeast Asian base in the Philippines.

Ano said on Thursday the Philippines would still pursue closer defense ties with China.

Ano was speaking at a ceremony at which China turned over 3,000 assault rifles and ammunition worth P168 million ($3.2 million) to the Philippine military for use in fighting terrorism.

US Marines and Armed Forces of the Philippines launch inaugural Kamandag.

Some 900 Marines and sailors with the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and their counterparts from the Armed Forces of the Philippines will participate in new joint exercises dubbed as Kamandag – the acronym for “Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma ng Dagat” or Cooperation of Warriors of the Sea – at multiple locations in Luzon. According to the US Embassy, the goal of Kamandag is to increase counter terrorism capabilities through bilateral military exchanges between AFP and US troops.

Formally launched last Monday with Philippine Marine Corps Commandant Brig. Gen. Alvin Parreño leading the ceremonies (shown in photo), the joint drills which will run until Oct. 11 will see participants practicing combat lifesaving procedures, shipboard mass casualty response, live fire training, urban operations, movement ashore, as well as humanitarian and disaster response.

Leading up to the commencement of the joint exercises, members of the AFP and US forces also completed humanitarian and civic assistance projects in schools in Casiguran, Aurora much earlier.

Aside from reinforcing the decades-long alliance between the US and the Philippines, Kamandag is also intended to improve bilateral responsiveness to crises in the Asia-Pacific region and increase the overall readiness of troops from both countries.

From Reuters (Oct 5): China gives guns to Philippines to show it's a friend, not a foe

Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (2nd from L), with H.E. Zhao Jianhua (2nd from R), ambassador of People's Republic of China to the Philippines and General Eduardo Ano (R), Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, inspects automatic rifles during the turnover ceremony of China's urgent military assistance to the Philippines at the military camp in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon city, metro Manila, Philippines October 5, 2017. REUTERS/Romeo RanocoChina gave 3,000 assault rifles to the Philippines on Thursday as a gesture of “friendly and cooperative relations”, the second shipment of rifles to the Philippines this year as President Rodrigo Duterte seeks closer ties with old foe Beijing.

Philippines Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Chinese weapons were supposed to go to the military, but Duterte felt the police needed them more.

“We are lucky that the Chinese government provided the firearms,” Lorenzana said at a news conference, where stacks of rifles were on display.

The rifles, worth about $3.3 million, will all go to the Philippine National Police (PNP), which needs to fill a shortfall of guns after some U.S. legislators blocked the sale of about 26,000 M4 rifles to the police last year.

The freeze on that sale came amid concerns about the United States arming a police force accused of widespread human rights abuses during Duterte’s fierce war on drugs, which has killed thousands of Filipinos.

Duterte, who has been critical of the Philippines-U.S. alliance, is eager to develop closer trade and political ties with old foe China.

Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (C), receives the automatic rifle handovered to him by H.E. Zhao Jianhua (R), ambassador of People's Republic of China to the Philippines while General Eduardo Ano (R), Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, looks on during the turnover ceremony of China's urgent military assistance to the Philippines at the military camp in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon city, metro Manila, Philippines October 5, 2017. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

China gave 3,000 assault rifles and 100 sniper rifles to the Philippines in June, part of a new wave of diplomacy to engage a country with which Beijing has a bitter history of territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

The military also gave those guns to the police, but kept the sniper rifles for themselves.

Beijing’s donations so far remain small compared with arms transfers from the United States, a defence treaty ally with the Philippines since the 1950s. Washington has in the past 17 years provided nearly a billion dollars of military aid, including drones, ships, surveillance planes and assault rifles.

Duterte has a notorious grudge against the United States and accuses it of hypocrisy and of making his country a potential target for aggression. He has also complained about troops receiving used, “hand-me-down” American weapons, and applauded China’s donation of new ones.

Washington and Manila have for decades held joint exercises, as many as 300 a year, and the programmes remain intact, despite repeated threats last year by Duterte to cancel them and abrogate bilateral defence pacts.

They are set to increase those exercises next year, said Military chief General Eduardo Ano, who agreed last week with his U.S. counterpart to hold more maritime security, counter-terrorism and humanitarian assistance programmes.

A closer look at the appointment and what it means.Image Credit: Wikimedia CommonsThis week, Philippine defense officials confirmed that Major General Rolando Joselito Bautista, the overall commander in Marawi City, would be elevated to become the head of the Philippine Army. The change, which will be confirmed on October 5 during a turnover ceremony attended by President Rodrigo Duterte, is yet another sign of Bautista’s quick rise within the Philippine military at a critical juncture in both the country’s security as well as Duterte’s presidency.

Bautista’s rise within the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has been quite fast over the past two years. Initially the commander of the 104th Brigade based in Basilan, he was asked to head Duterte’s Presidential Security Group (PSG) following the president’s election victory in May last year. The emergence of Duterte, the first president from the country’s south, had raised hopes among some of progress in resolving the country’s raging, decades-long communist and Muslim insurgencies (See: “Will the Philippines’ Next President Maintain Aquino’s Reform Momentum?”).

Seven months after being in his current post – four of which have been taken up by the Marawi Crisis – Bautista will assume the post of chief of the Philippine Army this week. Bautista, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1985, will replace acting chief Lieutenant General Glorioso Miranda, and the change of command ceremony is scheduled for Thursday afternoon Philippine time at the Philippine Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio.

In a statement, AFP public affairs chief Colonel Edgard Arevalo described Bautista as a quiet, unassuming, and decisive commander. It remains unclear how long Bautista will be in his current position, since he will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 next October. But with the Islamic State threat remaining high, no end in sight for domestic insurgencies in the Philippines, and questions raised over both the future direction of the country’s military modernization as well as civil-military relations under a strongman president, his tenure will no doubt be a busy one (See: “Battle for Marawi Deepens Philippines’ Military Budget Challenge”).

Feuding groups in Lanao del Sur province have surrendered to the military and local authorities a total of 132 loose firearms, including high-powered ones, under Operation Plan "Reaper" that was launched on July 1, 2017.

“Oplan 'Reaper' was launched by the troops of the 6th Infantry Battalion, in alignment with the Development Support and Security Plan Kapayapaan of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Ranao Ragat Inter-Agency Task Force, to conduct rido settlement among warring families in the province,” said Major General Arnel Dela Vega, commander of the Joint Task Force ZamPeLan.

Dela Vega said that a total of 132 high-powered and other types of firearms have been surrendered by warring families in the coastal municipalities of Kapatagan, Balabagan, Malabang, Picong and Marogong in the province.

Negotiations with feuding families resulted in the surrender of 103 high-powered and 29 other types of firearms.

Of the 132 firearms, 13 were surrendered by the clans in Kapatagan, 30 in Balabagan, 40 in Malabang, 19 in Picong, and 30 in Marogong.

Other materiel, including 18 magazines, seven clips for Garand rifle, and 63 rounds of ammunition have been also turned over to the the military and local authorities .

“Oplan ‘Reaper’ will continue to be implemented as an initiative of the armed forces to assist local government units in keeping the peace and order in the province amid the crisis in Marawi City and the implementation of Martial Law in the whole of Mindanao," said Lieutenant General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom).

Meanwhile, a high-powered firearm, ammunition, and other materiel were seized from Bangsamoro members of the Islamic Freedom Fighters in Maguindanao during a military clearing operation last Monday.

In his report to the WesMinCom, Maj. Gen. Dela Vega, commander of the Joint Task Force Central, said that elements of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion and the 33rd Infantry Battalion, on combat clearing operation seized an M14 rifle, magazines, 7.62mm live ammo, an ICOM radio, a pistol holster, Comelec and Moro National Liberation Front identification cards, among other items, in Barangay Montay in Datu Piang, Maguindanao.

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Oct 4): AS MILITARY WARNS OF STEPPED-UP NPA ATTACKS//Rebels burn down banana packing plant in South Cotabato

Suspected communist rebels torched on Tuesday a banana packing plant of a multinational firm in T’boli, South Cotabato.

Authorities said about 30 heavily armed men, reportedly led by a certain “Commander Alfie,” barged into the Sumifru packing plant at about 10:30 p.m., disarmed its three security guards, poured gasoline into the facility and set it on fire.

T’boli town police head Chief Inspector Ramil Villagracia said property damages was estimated to cost about P6 million.

“They appeared to be from the other side of the province, probably Sarangani because they speak in Visayan dialect,”said Villagracia, adding that the suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were seen wearing uniforms of the firm’s security guards.Villagracia appealed to Sumifru Philippines and other multinational companies and construction firms in T’boli to take stricter security measures as the NPA has intensified its atrocities.

Four days earlier, alleged communist rebels from Kiamba, Sarangani sneaked into an upland village of T’boli and disarmed village watchman Mario Palau, of Barangay Tudok, of his M-16 and Garand rifles.

Villagracia also said that about 20 rebels also barged inside the house of Barangay Tudok secretary Imion Inggo, and at gunpoint, took his carbine rifle and ammunition.

Lt. Colonel Benjamin Leander, commander of the 27th Infantry Battalion, said the NPA in South Cotabato and adjacent provinces have intensified its recruitment and harassment activities in recent days.

He cited the disarming cases in Barangay Tudok where the rebels, led by Commander Rai-Rai of Guerilla Front 73, had been recruiting indigenous peoples as members, and at the same time, gathering firearms from village defenders.

“Commander Rai-Rai is behind the series of burning of buses in South Cotabato after firms refused to shell out revolutionary taxes to the rebels,” Leander said.

NEARING END Soldiers on the front line in the war against Islamic State-inspired terrorists in Marawi City are happy about reports from their superiors that the crisis is ending soon. —JEOFFREY MAITEM

Eight gunmen believed to be members of the Maute terror group emerged from the battle zone here and surrendered to the military on Wednesday, a local official said.

The gunmen also turned over nine hostages to the military, according to Zia Alonto Adiong, spokesperson for the Lanao del Sur crisis management committee.

Adiong gave no further details, but he said the development was “clear evidence we are approaching the end of the war.”

Earlier reports said 17 hostages emerged from the battle zone as the military hit Maute positions with airstrikes.

Not confirmed by military

But the Joint Task Force Ranao said it could not confirm the reports.

Col. Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of the task force, said he could confirm only the surrender of three Maute gunmen and the rescue of five hostages over two weeks ago and the rescue of Catholic priest Teresito Soganub before that.

Brawner also said he could also confirm the rescue of 1,733 hostages and civilians since May 23, when terrorists from the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group in the Middle East rampaged across Marawi.

The terrorists seized large parts of the city to establish an IS enclave in Southeast Asia.

More than 800 people have died in the fighting, including 155 government troops, as of Monday.

Brawner said the military had no information about the development reported by Adiong.

“We will present them to the public if there are such hostages rescued from the front lines,” he said.

‘We’ll finish them’

Brawner said the military continued to persuade the remaining terrorists in the city to surrender.

“We are also trying to convince them to release the hostages and to surrender so that the crisis here will be over, but if they don’t want to surrender and continue fighting, our troops will finish them,” he said.

Brawner said it was likely the terrorists would eventually use the hostages as human shields to protect themselves as they escaped from Marawi.

The battle for control of the city becomes fiercer every day, as the terrorists run out of space to move, Brawner said.

He declined to say how large the remaining battle zone was but said the fighting may not last long, as the terrorists were running out of food, water, medicine and ammunition.

The military, however, could not launch a major assault because that would endanger the lives of the hostages.

Going by information from escaped or rescued hostages, the military said 46 hostages, some of them children, remained in the hands of the terrorists.

“[O]ur ground commanders told us that this week is very critical,” Brawner said.

Duterte visit

President Duterte visited the troops on Monday and after getting briefed by the commanders on the situation said the battle for Marawi could be over soon.

The troops are looking forward to going home and spending time with their families.

Sgt. Celso Ebanos of the Army’s 1st Scout Ranger Company said he would immediately apply for leave once the war was over.

“I have two children. My eldest is 6 and the second, 3. [My] second child had a birthday party recently and I wasn’t there,” said the 40-year-old native of Sultan Kudarat province.

Sgt. Jerry Villarosa, 38, said he was looking forward to a vacation “if my commanders will allow me to have one.”

From MindaNews (Oct 4): Group says martial law ‘toothless’ as kidnappings, drugs, terrorism continue in Sulu

The civil society organization Save Sulu Movement said the declaration of martial law in Mindanao has been ineffective in putting a stop to terrorism more than four months after President Rodrigo R. Duterte placed the entire island under military rule.

Speaking in “Wednesdays Habi at Kape” forum here, Prof. Octavio A. Dinampo, the group’s spokesperson, described martial law in Mindanao as “toothless” as terrorism, kidnapping, and narco-politics have not been addressed yet in Sulu.

Dinampo called for the lifting of martial law in Mindanao, except in six out of 19 Sulu municipalities, known as the “cradle of violence” of the Abu Sayyaf Group with alleged links to some local politicians.

He said the group demands for complete military takeover in Patikul, Maimbung, Indanan, Parang, Talipao and Kalinggalan Caluan in Sulu. Sulu is part of the five-province Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

In this file photo taken May 10, 2017 during hte Habi and Kape at the Abreeza Mall in Davao City, Prof. Octavio Dinampo of Sulu, spokesperson of Save Sulu Movement, said they want President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in six of 19 towns in Sulu and for Congress to investigate the alleged links between local politicians and the Abu Sayyaf. Dinampo returned as guest n the Habi at Kape on October 4 and said they want martial law in Mindanao lifted except in the six towns in Sulu. Photo courtesy of PRIX BANZON

Dinampo said eliminating the terrorists in Marawi City is similar “to cutting the tail of the snake first and then go for its head later”.“Such approach literally won’t kill the snake and more so could not hurt the Abu Sayyaf group at all,” he said.

Dinampo claimed some police scalawags continue to provide protection to local politicians in Sulu even as the National Police Commission (Napolcom) stripped seven provincial governors and 132 mayors of their power over local authorities in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Sultan Kudarat, and Cotabato City.

On June 8, the Napolcom issued Resolutions 2017-334 and 2017-335 cancelling the deputation of these local chief executives from exercising supervision over the police due to the alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

“Nothing much has been done. There was arrest here and there; killing of one or two ASG here, but in its entirety I think we did not achieve the purpose it serves,” Dinampo said.

He said kidnap-for-ransom is not only a cottage industry in Sulu but is also related to drugs.

Dinampo said the group has come up with six recommendations to the Supreme Court, Department of Justice, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Napolcom, and Department of National Defense to win the war against drugs.

He said they want the Napolcom to fully enforce Resolutions 2017-334 and 2017-335 and establish a monitoring mechanism where ordinary citizens can report violation.

Dinampo said they demand the suspension of the pre-identified local chief executives who are allegedly involved in illegal drugs trade as cited by the Napolcom Resolution and prosecute, and put those criminally liable behind bars.

He has also called for the removal or transfer of provincial prosecutor of Sulu and conduct investigation why there is a “dismal track record or zero conviction of drug cases in the past 10 years in Sulu”.

The group wants the government to conduct an inventory on drug cases and account to the last gram the apprehended illegal substance and drug paraphernalia.

Dinampo said they want an investigation of the highly suspicious dismissals of drug cases and the release of high profile drug suspects from jail without trial.

He said they want the government to conduct a lifestyle check on the personnel of the provincial prosecutor’s office, provincial jail, some court personnel in relation to possible protection extended to drug suspects.

Dinampo added they welcome with the recent pronouncement of President Duterte that the Bamboo Triad International Syndicate Group has given a franchise to the ASG for its multi-billion drug trade operations.

“This comes as no surprise for the people of Sulu given the open, overt, and uninterrupted operation of illegal drugs trade in the island Province which seems to be as usual despite the highly intensified all-out campaign against drugs at the national level,” he said in a separate statement.

Dinampo surmised failure to dismantle the triad because the government fails “to decapitate the head of the snake”.

“With all due respect to Secretary Delfin Lorenzana whom we believe is sincere and highly circumspect in implementing the Martial Law, dealing with Marawi first and then the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu alter, is like cutting the tail of the snake first and then going for the head later. Such approach literally won’t kill the snake and more so could not hurt the Abu Sayyaf group at all,” he said.

Dinampo said kidnapping can be stopped by depriving the terrorists sanctuary and by arresting and prosecuting the mastermind backing and conniving with them.